Welcome to the Northeastern edition of Outbreak Outlook! It is only available to paid subscribers. If you wish to become a paid subscriber and access region-specific information, please click the Subscribe now button below. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin

Respiratory Diseases

ILI

With flu season behind us, very few people are visiting the doctor, the emergency room, or being hospitalized for influenza or influenza-like illness.

There were very low rates of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness in the Northeast, with Vermont winning the prize for lowest reported rate at 0.6% of all outpatient visits for ILI.

New Jersey has the highest outpatient ILI rate in the region, which at 3.1% is just above that 2.9% cut-off we use nationally to mark the beginning and end of flu season. They saw a notable decrease this week, however, and I expect it to continue to move in that direction in the coming weeks.

Northeast Region: Change in ILI Activity

Percent of doctors visits for ILI symptoms

Emergency department visits for flu are minimal in the Northeast, with most states reporting that less than half of a percent of ED visits were for flu this past week. At the same time, hospitalizations rates for influenza are also very low across the Northeast, with most states reporting 1 or fewer influenza-related hospitalizations per 100,000 population.

COVID-19

The Covid-19 burden is minimal right now – enjoy the lull. Wastewater concentrations remain very low, around where they were last June. Emergency department visits for Covid-19 are extremely low in the Northeast, accounting for a tiny fraction (less than one third of one percent) of all ED visits. Hospitalizations are similarly low, with all states reporting fewer than 2 new admissions per 100,000 population.

Northeast Region: Change in New COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Weekly new hospitalizations per 100,000

Stomach Bugs

Norovirus is really hanging on. Test positivity is a little over 12%, about where it has been for the past several weeks. As such, I will repeat the same advice I’ve given for the past several weeks: keep washing those hands.

Northeast Region: Norovirus Activity

Test Positivity, Percentage

Food recalls

The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New

• Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts and Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts (more info)
• California Shelled Walnuts, Organic Light Halves and Pieces (more info)
• Ground beef by Cargill (more info)

Previously reported:

• Trader Joe’s 50% Less Salt Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews (more info)
• If you have food allergies, you may wish to review these FDA safety alerts and USDA alerts for foods with undeclared allergens.

In other news

• Pennsylvania health officials reported an outbreak of campylobacter linked to raw milk sold by Apple Valley Creamery. Infections from raw milk are common, and with H5N1 currently spreading, I would strongly recommend avoiding it completely.